Compare towns
Norwich vs Washington vs Preston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwich has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Washington has the most people working from home (20.1%).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Norwich | Washington | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 39,973Highest |
3,676Lowest |
4,821 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 38.5±1.7Lowest 6% below CT |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
| Washington and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±1.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Norwich and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Washington and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.1%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
| Preston and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,253±$68 16% below CT |
$1,204±$264Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
| Preston and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,703Lowest 29% below CT |
$4,709 29% below CT |
$4,749Highest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Norwich and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below CT |
26 minHighest 4% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
| Washington and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #133 of 149 in CT | #17 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | Regional School District 12 | Preston School District |
| High school in town | Norwich Free Academy | Shepaug Valley School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
9.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.